Guwahati, March 23: The Chief of the Eastern Command of the Indian Army, Lieutenant General Rana Pratap Kalita, on Wednesday flagged off the “Purvottar Bharat Parikrama”, a 20-day-long pan-Northeast car rally, from Fort Williams in Kolkata.
According to Defence spokesman Lt. Col. Mahendra Rawat, the 20-day long car rally will cover a total distance of around 4,000 km across 8 northeastern states, including Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram, and Meghalaya, navigating through extreme terrain, including Nathu-la in Sikkim, Se-la tunnel and Bum-la in Arunachal Pradesh, the War memorial at Kohima, and many historical locations.
Rawat informed that “Purvotar Bharat Parikrama” is part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, the year-long Platinum Jubilee of India’s Independence, showcasing the country’s journey and the achievements of its people over the past 75 years.
“The car rally aims to strengthen nationalism and motivate youth to join the Indian Army. The initiative would serve as a unique platform to showcase the cultural diversity of the northeastern region, encourage tourism, and strengthen the bond between the people of the eight states and the rest of the country,” Lt. Col. Rawat stated.
The rally comprises of 38 members and 10 vehicles, and would culminate on April 12 at Umroi in Meghalaya.
